Thill-coupling



(No Mbdel.)

W. JOHNSTON.

THILL COUPLING.

No. 267,693. Patented Nov. 21, 188 ,2..,

{I $1 M n I I j 5 6 H a mw wlw. z I in aid [MI m I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, OF MARINETTE, WISCONSIN.

THlLL-COUPLING,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,693, dated. November 21, 1882.

Application filed March 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marinette, in the county of Marinette and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a top or plan yiew of my thill-coupling with a portion of the top of the cushion cut away; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view taken on the line as a", Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional viewtaken at the line 3/ Fig. 1; Fig. 4, aperspective view ot'one of the drawirons detached, and Fig. 5 a perspective view of the slide that carries the rubber cushion detached. I

The object of my invention is to make a safe and secure thill-coupling which will be noiseless, strong, and durable, and at the same time be as free from the admission of dirt or gravel to the bearings as possible.

My invention consists in the construction of the draw-irons; also, in the construction of the sliding plate which carries the rubber cushion, its combination with the base-plate and thumbscrew; and, also,in the construction of the rubber cushion, and the combination of various parts, as hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the axle.

B B are clips, by which the thill-coupler is secured tothe axle.

(l is the base-plate of my thill-coupler, to which the clips B are secured by means of the nuts D.

- E E are two draw-bars, which pass between the base-plate O and the axle A, and are held securely in place by shoulders and projections, which strike against the axle when the baseplateis secured to the axle by means of the clips 13. These draw-bars have recesses F, with an opening, G at their tops, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. These recesses receive the trunnions H of the thill-iron I.

J is a sliding block, which carries the rubber cushion K. .It rests on the base-plate 0 between the draw-irons E. The base-plate G is constructed in such shape that this slide or sliding block can pass back under the axle between the clips, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3.

L is a cross-bar adapted to receive the thumbscrew M, which turns in a journal-bearing formed in the rear edge of the base-plate and the back projections (shown in Fig. 4) of the draw-irons, and slides the sliding block J back and forth on the base-plate O, as hereinafter described.

,K is a rubber cushion, which fits between the draw-irons E and rests upon the sliding bar J, so as to be moved with it to press against the thill-iron. The slide J has an upwardlyprojectin'g flange, O, which rests against the back side of the rubber cushion and forces it against the thill-iron when the slide is moved forward by means of the thumb-screw M. The front side of the rubber cushion is concave to 'fit the thill-iron, and its top is provided with a projecting flange or cap, which covers the recesses G and excludes the water and dirt therefrom.

To apply my thillcoupler to the axle I place the draw-irons E upon the base-plate G, and then secure the base-plate to the axle by means of the clips B, thus securing the draw-irons E securely in place. The thumb-wheel M is placed in position between the draw-ironsand the base-plate, as clearly shown in. Fig. 2, be-

fore the base-plate is secured to the axle. The slide J is then inserted in place on the baseplate between the draw-irons, so that the crossbar L will receive the thumb-screw. Thethilliron is then coupled by passingits trunnion or draw-pin through the slots G into the recesses F of the drawirons. The thumb-screw enables me to move the slide J and press the rubber cushion firmly against the thill-iron,

and compensate for any wear, and always hold pieces I am able to renew them when worn or broken cheaply, and by having a slide which carries my rubber cushion moved by a thumbscrew I am able at all times to make a tight and secure coupling and give any desired pressure to the rubber cushion against thethilliron.

in combination with means for fastening it at different adjustments in. a direction at right angles to the axle, with draw-irons havingeach 15 a recess closed in front, and with a thill-iron having trunnions arranged to enter the recesses, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM J OHNSTON,

Witnesses AMos HOLGATE, H. J. 'PLOCE. 

